Universal joint.



H. COOPER. I UNIVERSALJOINT. v APPLICATIOIN FILED'JAN-QH, 1914.

5 Patented J 1111015; 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

HICOOPER. UNIVERSAL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED um 14. '1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 15, 1915 I HERBERT COOPER, 91E BROOKLYN, NEW'YORK.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT Goornn, a citizenof the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inUniversal Joints, of which the followlng 1s a specification.

My lnventlon relatesto an improved un1- versal joint, particularlyadapted for use in flexible shafting, though it is to be under stoodthat the invention may be used in any other relation where the same maybe found desirable.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a universal oint, inwhich lost motion or back-lash is eliminated when the angle between thedriving and driven sections of the shaft is varied.

A further object of my invention is to produce a oint which is simpleand comparatively cheapto manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view my invention consists incertain constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, thepreferred form of which will be first specifically described inconnection with the accompanying drawings andthe'n the inventionparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

, Referring to the drawings wherein the same part is-designated by thesame reference numeral wherever it occurs, Figure 1 is a centrallongitudinal section of the pre- 'ferred embodiment of my invention,showing the parts in one position in full line,

and two other positions in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a cross sectiontakenon lme 2, 2, of

. Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view look mg into one end of thecasing, showing two of the movable "bearing blocks removed therefrom.Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section through my invention showingthe parts at an angle above the horizontal; Fig. 5 is an end view of thedevice with the shaft shown in section and, Fig. 6 is a central.

- longitudinal section through my invention showing the parts at anangle below the horizontal.

5 designates a shaft section to the end of which is securedta casing 6,the interior of said casing being formed with a spherical socket 7, cutaway at one end to provide an opening 8. 9 designates the other shaftsection. which has its end 10 polygonal in cross section, the form ofpolygon shown in the drawing beinga square, this end being Specificationof Letters Patent.

7, through the opening 8.

Formed on the sides of the socket 10 are a plurality of ribs 11, thenumber of ribs corresponding to the number of surfaces on the end 10 ofthe shaft. These ribs are located equidistant from each other andproject inwardly from the walls of the socket. The inner surfaces ofeach of these ribs is beveled from a central point 12 to form front andrear bearing surfaces 13 and 14. The side walls 15, 15 of the ribs beingalso beveled so that they form with the bearing surfaces 13 and 14 asharp corner at 12, the angle of the side walls 15 and 15 being adaptedto enter into the spherical socket 'such that the adjacent walls ofadjacent ribs are parallel and form with the inner wall of the socket 7a pocket to receive a parallel side walls 15 of-the ribs, and the blocksare of a height substantially equal to the'height of the ribs. The innersurface 18 Patented June 15, 1915. Application filed January 14, 1914.Serial No. 811,984.

of each block is flat, and' forms with the side walls 15 of adjacentribs a substantially continuous surface when the blocks are in normalposition. The corners of each block are beveled at 19, 19, and 20, 20,to correspond with the. inner beveled surfaces 13 and 14 of the ribs,andto form with the latter a space to receive the beveled corners 21 ofthe section 10 of the shaft 9, and also to permit j the tilting of theblocks in the movement of the shaft. The outer surface of each of theblocks is curved, both longitudinally and transversely, as. shown at 21,21, to lit the curvature of the interior of the casing, and each blockis preferably also provided with a longitudinal groove 22 therein, toreduce the weight and form two bearing surfaces for each block. It is tobe noted that the rear wall of the socket 7 is complete, and that thelip 8 formed at the front end of the socket provides a retaining portionfor the blocks when. the ,parts are assembled.

In assembling the construction, after the blocks 16 are placed inposition between the ribs, the end 10 of the shaft 19 is slipped providea cup 24 which has a central opening 25, through which the shaft9.passes, the

cup being of a size to snugly fit the outer spherical surface 23, and itis preferably provided at its outer edge with a packing ring 26. Y

27 is a washer of felt or similar material placed over the shaft,against the end of the cup, which engages a washer 28, pressed againstby a spiral spring 29 confined between a shoulder 30 of a collar orsleeve 31, and the washer 28. The collar or sleeve 31 may be held on theshaft by'a set screw- 32.

From the foregoing description and construction it will be seen that thesection 10 of the shaft, when the two shafts are rocked in relation toeach other, will slide on the bearing surfaces 18 of the blocks,transversely' thereto, and that the blocks will movelongitudinally ofthe socket between the ribs, and furthermore that the center ofoscillation of the .portion' 10 of the shaft is substantially in linewith the corners 12 on the ribs. By, reason of these facts changes inthe angle between the two shaft sections will not produce any lostmotion or backters Patent is:

lash between the shaft sections;

I am aware that considerable variation is possible in the details ofconstructionherein shown and described, without departing from thespiritof my invention, and I do not intend to limit myself thereto, except aspointed out in the following claims, in which .it is my intention toclaim all the novelty inherent in the structureshownand described asbroadly as thei state of the art will permit. I

Having thus'd I claim as-ne' scribed my inv ehtion what and" desire to.secure by Let- I 1. In a universal oint the icombination with acasing-havinga substantially spherical interior, of a plurality ofspaced ribs extending inwardly from the interior of the casing, aplurality of driving blocks mount 'ed between the ribs and movabletherein,

said blocks having a curved outer surface thereof.

for contact with the interior of the casing, and a plane inner surface,and a shaft having a polygonal end adapted to extend between the blocksand contact with the plane surfaces thereof.

2. In a universal joint the cgimbination with-a casing having asubstantially spherical interior, of a plurality of spaced ribsextending inwardly from theinterior of the same, the side walls of saidribs being beveled whereby the adjacent walls of ad acent ribs aresubstantially parallel to each other, a plurality of driving blocksmounted between the ribs and movable therein, each bearing block havingparallel side walls, a curved outer surface in contact with the interiorof the casing, and a plane inner-surface, a shaft having a polygonal-endadapted to extend between the blocksand contact with the plane surfacesthereof. 3. In a universal joint the combination with a casing having asubstantially spherical interior, of a plurality of spaced ribs extending inwardly from the interior of the casing, each of said ribsbeing beveled from a substantially central point to form front and rearbearing surfaces, the side walls of said ribs being also beveled, theangle of the side walls being such that adjacent Walls of adjacent ribsare substantially parallel to each other, a plurality of driving blocksmounted between the ribs and movable therein, said blocks havingsubstantially parallel side walls, a curved outersurface in contact withthe interior of the casing, and a plane inner surface, and a shafthaving a .polygonal end adapted to extend between the blocks and contactwith the plane surfaces In testimony whereof I afiix my signature inpresence of two witnesses. I HERBERT COOPER.

Witnesses: f PAUL Dm'rz, I

1 James 'BLAKE.

